NORTH COAST, Calif. – Forty demonstrators were arrested at an animal rights protest Tuesday afternoon in Petaluma.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office received a call at noon on Tuesday regarding trespassers on the property of Sunrise Egg Farms on Liberty Road, according to Sgt. Spencer Crum.
Crum said it was reported that the animal rights activists had stormed the property, broken doors to chicken coops and removed chickens.
Upon arrival, the deputies were met by approximately 200 people setting up a coordinated protest. Crum said organizers of the demonstration demanded to be allowed access to the property and videotape what they perceived to be sick or improperly cared for chickens.
Management of the egg farm agreed to let an organizer come onto his property to view the chickens but negotiations broke down as protesters demanded that 20 people be allowed access with video cameras and to take any birds they felt were sick or injured, Crum said.
After three hours of negotiating, organizers felt they wanted to advance their cause and publicity by getting arrested. Crum said they cooperatively worked with deputies, advising they had 40 people who predetermined that they were going to be arrested.
The 40 protesters worked cooperatively with deputies and advanced onto the farm property and were all arrested without incident for trespassing, according to Crum.
A transport bus took them to the Sonoma County Jail where they will be booked and released on a citation to appear in court, Crum said.
Crum said deputies worked with the organizers and have taken a report, to be forwarded to the California Department of Food and Agriculture which regulates commercial chicken farms.
Authorities arrest 40 people in Petaluma animal rights demonstration
- Lake County News reports
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